Equity Bank Hack: 8 Kenyans Jailed in Rwanda

8 Kenyans have each been sentenced to 8 years in jail by a court in Rwanda over their alleged involvement in the attempted hacking of Equity Bank systems. The 8 individuals form part of a 12-man group arrested by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) in 2019 following investigations into a series of hacking attempts.

The Kenyans handed jail terms include Dedan Muchoki Muriuki, Samuel Wachira Nyuguto, Kinyua Erickson Macharia, Godfrey Gachiri Githinji, Eric Dickson Njagi Mutegi, Reuben Kirogothi Mwangi, Damaris Njeri Kamau and Steve Maina Wambugu. Also arrested was

Rwandese media further reported that the suspects were fined Rwf50 million (Sh5.3 million) in damages and about Rwf3 million (Sh322,000) for other charges

The group is alleged to have initially hacked Equity Bank systems in Kenya and Uganda, getting onto the radar of security agencies in the region before they ventured into Rwanda.

They were accused of working with bank insiders to identify accounts with large deposits which were then targeted, with computer scripts written to move money to accounts of their accomplices who would make withdrawals.

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The group is said to have recruited Rwandese nationals to take out the funds using Equity’s Eazzy Banking platform or ATMs.

Security officials in Rwanda had, however, already been notified of the group’s activities and acted to shut down the operation.

“The court tendered the verdict on the five charges; unauthorised access to a computer or a computer system data; access to data with intent to commit an offence; unauthorised modification of computer or computer system data; theft; and formation of or joining a criminal association,”  noted Rwandese publication Taarifa Rwanda.

The ruling has sparked renewed calls for investment in cyber-security, as more businesses of all sizes adopt digital-first strategies exposing them to a range of new threats.

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